LOVE FROM A STRANGER

US, 1947, 81 minutes, Black and white.
Sylvia Sidney, John Hodiak, Ann Richards, John Howard Isobel Elsom, Frederick Worlock.
Directed by Richard Whorf.

Love From a Stranger is a brief melodrama based on a story by Agatha Christie. It was directed by Richard Whorf, former actor who moved to direction (Till the Clouds Roll By) and then to production. The film stars Sylvia Sidney as a rather retiring heroine who wins money in a sweepstake and is courted by a mysterious stranger, suavely played by John Hodiak. With a setting in Devon, the terrorising of the heroine by the villain reminds audiences more of the stories by Daphne Du Maurier (in the 'Rebecca' vein). Entertaining of its kind.

1. Entertaining melodrama? Mystery? Period drama?

2. Black and white photography? The atmosphere of Devon (Hollywood style)? Night and day, light and darkness? Editing and pace? Menace and shock? Atmospheric score?

3. The title and its triteness, yet its summing up the encounter of Cecily with the stranger and her falling in love with him, becoming his victim?

4. Sylvia Sidney's style as Cecily? A retiring girl? Her exhilaration in winning the sweepstake? The encounter with the stranger? Her being caught up by his charm? The marriage? Arrival at her home? The atmosphere of Devon? The personal life, his closeness and reserve? Her believing him? Suggestions for suspicion? His absences? His room? The gradual harm to her? Her growing fear? The rain and the storms? her discovering the truth about him? His return and pursuit? Her being saved? The audience enjoyment of the heroine in this kind of distress drama?

5. The villain and his suave style? Audience suspicions about his identity? The background of the South American murderer? His appearance in England? The encounter with Cecily? Charm? Plausible story of his background? Marriage? His devotion? His secrecy? His gradual menacing of Cecily? Suspicions? Absences? The atmosphere of the storm; his menacing and chasing her? His being thwarted? Death?

6. The background of the South American murders, the newspaper items, the text books? The doctor and the discussions? The discovery of the identity of the murderer by the drawing? The heightening of suspense?

7. The atmosphere of the house, storms, the strange noises from the cellar, darkness?

8. Audiences enjoying sharing the terror experience of the heroine? Suspense and fear? Nightmares?